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Video Emerges Of Cuba Gooding Jr. Allegedly Groping Woman At NYC Bar
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 14, 2019
Modified Jun 14, 2019
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Steven Ferdman/Shutterstock
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 14, 2019
Modified Jun 14, 2019
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After being accused of groping a woman at a NYC club last weekend, actor Cuba Gooding Jr. turned himself in to the NYPD yesterday. He pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges, including one count of forcible touching and one count of sexual abuse in the third degree. Gooding was released without bail
Today, security camera footage of Gooding at the club in question has emerged—which Gooding Jr.'s attorney claims exonerates the actor. The video, which was obtained by TMZ, shows Gooding at the Magic Hour Rooftop Bar and Lounge in Midtown last Sunday with girlfriend Claudine De Niro, when the 30-year-old alleged victim (whose face is blurred out) sat down next to them.
TMZ writes that in the video below, you can see that Gooding "definitely touched the thigh and breast of the woman accusing him of groping" her while on the couch. In a second video taken a half-hour later, Gooding and De Niro make out on a couch when the alleged victim approaches and begins arguing with a security guard, allegedly saying, "Yes, he did," to the guard.
Gooding's attorney Mark Heller claims the video "reveals that there was absolutely no criminal conduct and inappropriate conduct on the part of Cuba Gooding Jr., and it completely exonerates him from any criminal conduct."
Heller also told the Daily News, "I have to tell you, I’ve viewed almost two hours of video, and it does not reveal one scintilla of criminal conduct, not even something ambiguous that could be misinterpreted," Heller said. "They have extensive video. We’ve reviewed it all. It shows this woman almost stalking him, following him around."
Tagged
cuba gooding jr
forcible touching
groping
nypd
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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